Philanthropist

FROM THE LONDON STATESMAN.

We lately inserted the extraordinary case of Jan de Moulin, in the reign of Charles II. The following is equally as singular, though more tragical; and equally well authenticated: though we cannot remember the precise time of the transaction. It furnishes an additional warning to Juries, to beware how they exercise their trust.

A Gentleman died possessed of a considerable fortune, which he left to his only Child, a Daughter: and appointed his Brother to be a Guardian, and Executor of his will. The young Lady was then about 18: and if she happened to die unmarried, or, if married, without Children, her fortune was left to her Guardian, and to his Heirs.

As the interest of the Uncle was now incompatible with the life of the Niece, several other Relations hinted, that it would not be proper for them to live together. Whether they were willing to prevent any occasion of slander against the Uncle, in case of the young Lady's death: whether they had any apprehensions of her being in danger; or whether they were only discontented with the Father's disposition of his fortune, and therefore propagated rumours to the prejudice of those who possessed it: it cannot be known:

The Uncle, however, took his Niece to his house near Epping Forest: and soon afterwards She disappeared.

Great inquiry was made after her: & it appearing, that the day she was missing, she went out with her Uncle into the Forest: and that he returned without her: he was taken into custody, and in a few days, afterwards he went through a long examination, in which he acknowledged, that he went out with her: and pretended that she found means to loiter behind him, as they were returning home: He sought her in the forest, as soon as he missed her: and that he knew not where she was, or what was become of her. This account was thought improbable, and his apparent interest in the death of his Ward, and perhaps the petulant zeal of other Relations, conspired to raise and strengthen suspicions against him, and he was detained in custody.

Some new circumstances were every day rising against him. It was found that the young Lady had been addressed by a neighbouring Gentleman, who had, a few days before she was missing, set out on a journey to the North: and that she had declared she would marry him when he returned: that her Uncle had frequently expressed his disapprobation of the match, in very strong terms: that she had left a letter and reproached him with unkindness and an abuse of his power. A woman was also produced, who swore that the day the young Lady was missing, about 11 o'clock in the forenoon, she was coming thro the Forest, and heard a woman's voice expostulating with great eagerness: upon which she drew near the place, and before she saw any person heard a voice say, don't kill me, uncle; don't kill me: Upon which she was greatly terrified, and immediately hearing the report of a firearm very near, she made all the haste she could from the spot; but could not rest in her mind, till she had told what had happened.

Such was the general impatience to punish a man, who had murdered his niece to inherit her fortune, that, upon the evidence he was condemned and executed.

About 10 days after the execution, the young Lady came home. It appeared, however that what all the Witnesses had sworn was true, and the fact was found to be thus circumstanced: The young Lady declared that, having previously agreed to go off with the Gentleman who courted her, he had given out that he was going a journey to the North: but that he waited concealed at a lodging house near the skirts of the Forest, till the time appointed, which was the day she disappeared. That he had horses ready for himself and her, and was attended by two Servants also on horseback. That as she was walking with her Uncle, he reproached her with persisting in her resolution to marry a Man, of whom he disapproved: and, after much altercation, she said, with some heat: I have set my heart upon it. If I do not marry him, it will be my death; and don't kill me, Uncle; don't kill me.

That, just as she had pronounced these words, she heard a firearm discharged very near her; at which she started, and immediately afterwards saw a Man come forward from among the trees, with a wood-pigeon in his hand, that he had just shot. That coming near the place of their rendezvous, she formed a pretence to let her Uncle go on before her: and her suitor being waiting for her, with a horse, she mounted and immediately rode off. That, instead of going into the North, they retired to a house, in which he had taken lodgings, near Windsor, where they were married the same day: and in about a week went a journey to France; whence, when they returned, they first heard of the misfortune which they had inadvertently brought upon their Uncle.

So uncertain is human testimony, even when the Witnesses are sincere, and so necessary is cool and dispassionate inquiry and discrimination, with respect to crimes that are enormous.
heinous in the highest degree, and committed with every possible aggravation.